Kukla's Korner Hockey

Signing Alex Ovechkin in the event of an NHL lockout is unnecessary and would bring “no prestige”, the president of a KHL team linked to the Washington Capitals star told R-Sport on Sunday.

The NHL’s collective contract between the league and the NHL Players’ Association is due to expire next month, with no replacement in place, setting the scene for a lockout such as the one that wiped out the 2004-05 season.

New Dynamo Moscow president Arkady Rotenberg’s comments distance the Gagarin Cup champion team from Ovechkin after Dynamo general director Andrei Safronov said the team would “talk with Ovechkin” if there is a lockout.

“I’m actually against it. And I don’t see any prestige in it,” Rotenberg said. “I think that Ovechkin isn’t necessary.”